Wednesday, April 14, 2004

African elephant still is endangered across most of the continent, but conservation efforts in South Africa have been so successful game reserves there soon may be faced with killing thousands of the animals to keep the herds from overpopulating.

Although the African elephant population numbered 5 million to 10 million in 1930, there now are less than 500,000 of the animals. South Africa, however, has seen rapid increases in recent years in the elephant herds found throughout the country on more than 20 national parks and private reserves.

The populations are growing so large Addo Elephant National Park is expanding and private game reserves are using contraceptive vaccines to keep their populations from growing beyond capacity

. . . .

Currently, killing elephants in South Africa is banned because of international pressures but Joubert and Padayachee said it would be wise to reverse the ban because if the growing elephant population is not addressed soon, the reserves will have to kill even more animals.

Teddy Roosevelt never had it so good. Anyone know if these guys taste good? And no, I don't want to hear any dumb republican jokes, though a big 'ol elephant head hanging on the wall over my desk will certainly put me in the major leagues here in D.C. as far as Political Memorabilia Collectors go.